San Marino 0-7 Scotland
UEFA European Under-21 Championship Qualifier
Tuesday, 13 October 2020
San Marino Stadium, Serravalle
Tuesday, 13 October 2020
San Marino Stadium, Serravalle
Scotland Under-21s made it two wins from two in stunning fashion to bring October’s international break to a close.
A record-breaking hattrick from Fraser Hornby as well as goals from David Turnbull, Barry Maguire, Connor McLennan and Harrison Ashby put the hosts to the sword while boosting qualification hopes further for the youngsters.
A #SCO21s hat-trick this afternoon means that @Fraser_Hornby is now our record goalscorer at Under-21 level, with ten strikes.
— Scotland National Team (@ScotlandNT) October 13, 2020
🏴👊#YoungTeam pic.twitter.com/Jc8f7wOTH2
Scot Gemmill, who has now guided his side to three consecutive victories with three clean sheets in the process, named five changes from the team which defeated the Czech’s at Tynecastle.
David Turnbull, Barry Maguire and Andy Irving made up a new look midfield with Ross McCrorie being called-up to Steve Clarke’s A squad, Lewis Ferguson out and Allan Campbell unavailable through suspension.
Harrison Ashby dropped out for Connor McLennan on the right hand side, seeing Nathan Patterson move to right back. On the left, Patrick Reading was replaced by Glenn Middleton.
Fraser Hornby, wearing the captains armband up front, found himself just one goal behind Scotland Under-21 top scorers Jordan Rhodes and Scott Booth, each with eight goals to their name.
The front man was heavily involved early on when a floated cross from Turnbull picked the number nine out inside the six yard box. However, a tug on his jersey halted the Reims forward and the referee had no doubts as he pointed to the spot.
Hornby stepped up and cooly stroked the ball home, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way to open the scoring and equal the Under-21s goalscoring record in the process.
Just after the 20-minute mark, a searching ball from the right flank picked out the surging run of Daniel Harvie, who was unfortunate to watch his effort rattle the crossbar.
The bar was struck just minutes later too, yet this time it was far closer to a second goal for Scotland.
Turnbull, arriving late in to the box, guided a wonderful header towards the top right corner, crashing the bar and, despite the appeals from Scotland players, was deemed not to have crossed the line by the referee.
Scot Gemmill’s side continued to push for a second and were met by some terrific stops from Mirco De Angelis in the San Marino goal.
Hornby struck a neat volley low on target from Patterson’s cross, before De Angelis did well again to deny Lewis Mayo’s goal-bound effort from a corner.
The young team doubled their advantage five minutes before the break though and it was Turnbull, cruelly denied his first Scotland goal at Under-21 level shortly before, who made no mistake at the second time of asking.
A pinpoint cross found the Celtic midfielder in space inside the box, who guided his header back across goal and in to the bottom right corner.
Barry Maguire soon made it three before the break and it was a wonderful team goal. Turnbull’s ball down the left picked out the rapid run of Middleton, who darted towards the byline before pulling back for Maguire. The Motherwell man produced a fine finish from the edge of the area, steering the ball in to the opposite corner on his left foot.
The youngsters looked to pick up where they left off as the second half got underway.
Rangers youngster Patterson’s clever run and cutback picked out Middleton, who fired an effort from just outside the box wide of the mark.
The hosts were afforded a rare chance on goal when an unfortunate Tom McIntyre slip allowed Jacopo Raschi to run through on goal, but his effort failed to test Ross Doohan.
Hornby made the record his own just four minutes in to the second half and it was yet another impressive move from Gemmill’s side.
Harvie picked out Middleton down the left hand side and the winger turned provider yet again, picking out Hornby for his ninth and record-breaking goal.
Just seconds later, he made it double figures for the Under-21s as he bagged his third goal of the night.
Again, it came down the left-hand side yet it was Middleton who picked out Harvie this time to turn provider. The defender, driving in to the San Marino box, rolled the ball across goal for Hornby to tap home and secure his hattrick.
Head coach Gemmill made a trio of substitutions on the hour mark, introducing Harrison Ashby and Stephen Kelly in place of Turnbull and Hornby. Doohan made way in goals with Kieran Wright coming on.
With 20 minutes left on the clock, Scotland made it six thanks to a lethal counter attack and the pace of Middleton and McLennan.
Middleton was responsible for setting up yet another goal in Serravalle, driving nearly the length of the park before sliding in McLennan who knocked the ball cleverly through the legs of the defender before firing high past the goalkeeper in the hosts goal.
Gemmill then made a further two changes, withdrawing Irving and Patterson for Logan Chalmers and Kerr McInroy.
A seventh goal of the evening soon arrived and it was a dream introduction for Ashby, side-footing home to bag his first Scotland goal, which rounded off the scoring in Serravalle.
David Turnbull, Barry Maguire and Andy Irving made up a new look midfield with Ross McCrorie being called-up to Steve Clarke’s A squad, Lewis Ferguson out and Allan Campbell unavailable through suspension.
Harrison Ashby dropped out for Connor McLennan on the right hand side, seeing Nathan Patterson move to right back. On the left, Patrick Reading was replaced by Glenn Middleton.
Fraser Hornby, wearing the captains armband up front, found himself just one goal behind Scotland Under-21 top scorers Jordan Rhodes and Scott Booth, each with eight goals to their name.
The front man was heavily involved early on when a floated cross from Turnbull picked the number nine out inside the six yard box. However, a tug on his jersey halted the Reims forward and the referee had no doubts as he pointed to the spot.
Hornby stepped up and cooly stroked the ball home, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way to open the scoring and equal the Under-21s goalscoring record in the process.
Just after the 20-minute mark, a searching ball from the right flank picked out the surging run of Daniel Harvie, who was unfortunate to watch his effort rattle the crossbar.
The bar was struck just minutes later too, yet this time it was far closer to a second goal for Scotland.
Turnbull, arriving late in to the box, guided a wonderful header towards the top right corner, crashing the bar and, despite the appeals from Scotland players, was deemed not to have crossed the line by the referee.
Scot Gemmill’s side continued to push for a second and were met by some terrific stops from Mirco De Angelis in the San Marino goal.
Hornby struck a neat volley low on target from Patterson’s cross, before De Angelis did well again to deny Lewis Mayo’s goal-bound effort from a corner.
The young team doubled their advantage five minutes before the break though and it was Turnbull, cruelly denied his first Scotland goal at Under-21 level shortly before, who made no mistake at the second time of asking.
A pinpoint cross found the Celtic midfielder in space inside the box, who guided his header back across goal and in to the bottom right corner.
Barry Maguire soon made it three before the break and it was a wonderful team goal. Turnbull’s ball down the left picked out the rapid run of Middleton, who darted towards the byline before pulling back for Maguire. The Motherwell man produced a fine finish from the edge of the area, steering the ball in to the opposite corner on his left foot.
Today’s seven-goal victory margin is our biggest win at Under-21 level, surpassing our 5-0 win over Finland in September 1995.#SCO21s | #YoungTeam pic.twitter.com/nTQPRoRCmb
— Scotland National Team (@ScotlandNT) October 13, 2020
The youngsters looked to pick up where they left off as the second half got underway.
Rangers youngster Patterson’s clever run and cutback picked out Middleton, who fired an effort from just outside the box wide of the mark.
The hosts were afforded a rare chance on goal when an unfortunate Tom McIntyre slip allowed Jacopo Raschi to run through on goal, but his effort failed to test Ross Doohan.
Hornby made the record his own just four minutes in to the second half and it was yet another impressive move from Gemmill’s side.
Harvie picked out Middleton down the left hand side and the winger turned provider yet again, picking out Hornby for his ninth and record-breaking goal.
Just seconds later, he made it double figures for the Under-21s as he bagged his third goal of the night.
Again, it came down the left-hand side yet it was Middleton who picked out Harvie this time to turn provider. The defender, driving in to the San Marino box, rolled the ball across goal for Hornby to tap home and secure his hattrick.
Head coach Gemmill made a trio of substitutions on the hour mark, introducing Harrison Ashby and Stephen Kelly in place of Turnbull and Hornby. Doohan made way in goals with Kieran Wright coming on.
With 20 minutes left on the clock, Scotland made it six thanks to a lethal counter attack and the pace of Middleton and McLennan.
Middleton was responsible for setting up yet another goal in Serravalle, driving nearly the length of the park before sliding in McLennan who knocked the ball cleverly through the legs of the defender before firing high past the goalkeeper in the hosts goal.
Gemmill then made a further two changes, withdrawing Irving and Patterson for Logan Chalmers and Kerr McInroy.
A seventh goal of the evening soon arrived and it was a dream introduction for Ashby, side-footing home to bag his first Scotland goal, which rounded off the scoring in Serravalle.
#SCO21s | Here's how qualifying Group 4 looks after today's victory.
— Scotland National Team (@ScotlandNT) October 13, 2020
Scot Gemmill's side sit one point off top spot with a game in hand.#YoungTeam pic.twitter.com/G6wYp0cmWj